Terrifying moment air traffic control lost contact with planes at Newark

This is the terrifying moment air traffic control lost contact with planes at a major US airport with one pilot asking, “Are you there?” while trying to land.

Air traffic control at a major US airport lost contact with flights for 30 seconds last week, causing mayhem including major flight delays and cancellations, and Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) walking off the job.

The April 28 incident was reportedly caused by a fried piece of copper wire, leading to a communications blackout for air traffic controllers overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport – the second busiest airport in New York.

“Air traffic controllers in Area C of the Philadelphia TRACON (PHL), who are responsible for separating and sequencing aircraft in and out of Newark Airport (EWR), temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them,” an NATCA spokesperson said in a statement Monday.

Air traffic controllers for Newark Airport lost contact with planes for about 30 seconds last week – with issues still persisting.

Newark is New York’s second busiest airport. The debacle, caused by equipment failure, left people stranded as flights were delayed and cancelled. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

United Airlines, which makes up around 75 per cent of Newark’s flight traffic, was forced to delay, cancel or divert dozens of flights, following the equipment failure.

It flies about 328 flights daily at its Newark hub, and on May 3, began cancelling 35 flights a day – or about 10 per cent, following the second week of massive hold-ups.

It cited ongoing air traffic control staff shortages and equipment issues as a major reason behind the significant change.

Air traffic control outages, runway construction, and an announcement by United Airlines that over 20 per cent of FAA controllers at Newark ‘walked off the job’ have all contributed to delays and cancellations. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

The airline claimed 20 per cent of FAA workers “walked off the job” following the equipment malfunction, with many taking trauma leave.

The Chicago-based airline said that passengers with travel plans to or from Newark between May 6 to 17, 2025, are eligible for a “flexibility” waiver that will allow them to reschedule flights without any change.

Gnarly audio

Meanwhile, gnarly audio has been released of the moment a United Airline’s pilot was left asking “Approach, are you there?” as he tried to land at the busy airport.

The pilot, who was en route from New Orleans, had radioed the controllers at least five times as he sought clearance to land, but instead, was met with roughly 30 seconds of silence, according to the clip recorded by LiveATC.net.

A control tower is seen at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, Monday, May 5, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Seth Wenig

“United 1951, how do you hear me?” the controller could finally be heard asking.

“I got you loud and clear, United 1951,” the pilot responded.

In another stressful moment, a controller can be heard saying, “They lost all the radios at approach … three of the four radar screens went black and they have no frequencies.”

One controller could be heard telling a pilot flying to Newark from Charleston, South Carolina, “radar contact lost,” the New York Post reports.

A display shows the status of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Seth Wenig

People wait in line for a delayed flight at Newark International Airport on Monday. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

“We lost our radar so just stay on the arrival and maintain 6000 (feet),” the worker said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said due to the event, several controllers took absence under the Federal Employees Compensation Act.

“This program covers all federal employees that are physically injured or experience a traumatic event on the job,” it said.

A monitor shows flight delays at he busy airport. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

At least five FAA employees took 45 days of leave as a result of the incident, sources told CNN.

The outdated equipment has come under scrutiny with US Transportation secretary Sean Duffy, intending to propose a plan to fix the crumbling air traffic control infrastructure.

“The technology that we are using is old. That’s what is causing the outages and delays we are seeing at Newark,” Mr Duffy said in an X post on Saturday.

“If we don’t act, we will start to see these issues across the national airspace.

“That’s why I’m announcing a plan next week to build an all-new air traffic control system.”

Mr Duffy said on Monday the primary communication line went down, and the backup line didn’t fire.

“Now were planes going to crash? No. They have communication devices. … But it’s a sign that we have a frail system in place, and it has to be fixed.”